WHITEBAIT !

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1938, Page 5

WHITEBAIT !

[to the editor.] Sir, —Years ago, before the people’s Government took charge of God’s own country, it used to be the delight of certain people of the town to catch the tasty little fish, the whitebait. As well as proving remunerative to them they received a pleasure and satisfaction far more than most fishermen. And what is more they fished unmolested, officialdom had not reared s ts ugly head, no irritating regulations vzere in force to rob the fishermen of his paying pleasure. The news in last night’s “Star” will open their eyes, I’m sure. May 1 quote the passage from your local and general column: “On the Grey River, where hand nets are used, there must he a space of at least 12 yards between each fisherman.” Fishermen who have a sense of humour will, no doubt, laugh at first, but they will cventally realise how absurd and pinpricking these regulations are. To anyone who has done any whitebait fishing it is an impossibility to keep :ilways 12 yards away from one’s neighbour. The very act of netting the fish necessitates walking downntream at least half that distance. Our Prime Minister, however, has eald that he is not going to ho harnenned to orthodox methods and I mnat. say that he Is legislating for the unorthodox. It is going to bo mighty funny In whitebait season to see the Innpor.tors (for they must have inspector?: to enforce the law) drawing cir-nk-n every 12 yards for our sturdy vhllobnJterH. It will he a sight even f?zr lhz> Don. fl. T. Armstrong himself to fio<‘ such splendid uniformity among tho rtinktt of the VVllitebaiters’ Union, for :t I’nlon lifter such splendid legislation I;i the niitiiral thing. What fun II y/lil bo Io nee our one-time indopendem ntdlnrH all on the “12 ya’Tl mnrb/' rh?rhapn, the whitebait themy/lli oblige and keep in shoals 1/ apart, youra, etc., WHITEBAITER.